Vending mechanism for merchandise vending machines



April 26, 1960 G. R. ROGERS 2,934,240

VENDING MECHANISM FOR MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINES Filed Sept. 2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 m amfimr GORDON R.0GER$ April 26, 1960 G. R. ROGERS VENDING MECHANISM FOR MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2. 1954 P 1960 s. R. ROGERS 2,934,240

VENDING MECHANISM FOR MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINES Filed Sept. 2. 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor R. Rooms VENDING MECHANISM FOR MERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINES Filed Sept. 2/1954 April 26, 1960 a. R. ROGERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor GORDON R.RoeERS States Patent VENDING MECHANISM FOR lVlERCHANDISE VENDING MACHINES Gordon R. Rogers, Aurora, 11]., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo a corporation of Missouri Application September 2, 1954, Serial No. 453,861 3 Claims. (Cl. 221-243) The invention relates to improvements in merchandise vending machines and more particularly to the novel structure, assembly and operation of the manually operable vending mechanisms provided in such machines.

Merchandise vending machines of the type embodying the present invention are of the kind that have a plurality of racks each to contain packages of vendable merchandise, such as for example, cigarettes. The merchandise is vended upon the deposit in such machines of a coin or coins of a denomination corresponding to the value of the merchandise selected to be vended. The machine disclosed herein is adapted to contain merchandisc of different values and each rack has associated with it a plunger-ejector plate assembly each operable independently of the other plunger-ejector plate assemblies, only after coin-controlled mechanism associated with the machine has been conditioned for unlocking upon the deposit of the required coin or coins. The specific coincontrolled mechanism, as well as the vending machine racks per se, constitute no part of the present invention, they being disclosed and claimed in co-pending applications thereinafter more fully identified. The description which follows will therefor include but brief discussions of these features.

The structure embodying the present invention relates primarily to the plunger-ejector plate assemblies and their mechanical or operative connection with the coincontrolled mechanism. More specifically, the plungerejector plate assemblies and their mechanical connection with the coin-controlled mechanism embodies the essence of the present invention and it is, therefore, an object to provide such assemblies and connections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel plunger-ejector plate assembly that is not expensive to manufacture, is positive in operation and very ruggedly constructed, so as to withstand abuse.

Another object is to provide a coin-controlled vending machine with novel means to selectively connect any one of a plurality of vending plunger mechanisms with the coin-controlled mechanism therein.

Another object is to provide novel connection means common to all of the vending plunger mechanisms for operatively connecting any one of said vending plunger mechanisms with the coin-controlled mechanism with which the vending machine is provided.

Another object is to provide, in a vending machine, a rugged novelly constructed plunger and associated slide mechanism assembly, with a novel overload clutch.

Another object is to provide, in a coin-controlled vending machine, a coin-controlled mechanism provided with novel means for mechanically connecting said mechanism with any one of a plurality of manually actuable vending plungers.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and

particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated- Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the right-hand end of a vending machine embodying the features of the present invention, showing the outer casing or housing removed and the upper portion of the merchandise racks broken away.

' away.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing portions thereof broken away to illustrate normally concealed structure in detail.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 65 of Fig. 1, showing the intermediate portion of the assembly broken away.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view like Fig. 5 but showing the plunger-ejector plate mechanism in a position assumed following partial outward withdrawal of the plunger during a vending operation.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing the parts in fully withdrawn positions preliminarily to plunger return and merchandise vending. v

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken online 9--9 of Fig. 3.

A vending machine of the character disclosed in this application is shown in the companion Harry B. Stoner application, Serial No. 428,293, filed May 7, 1954, and Edwin Parre application, Serial No. 449,118, filed Aug. 11, 1954. Machines of this general character are constructed to vend a variety of brands of merchandise such as, for example, different brands of cigarettes. Cigarettes in their usual packages are arranged in stacks and selective means, in the form of novelly constructed plungerejector plate mechanisms, are provided one in association with each rack to cause a package of a selected brand to be vended upon the deposit in the machine of a coin or coins of the proper denomination. Owing to the fact that cigarettes, as well as other merchandise which may Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the marohandise vending machine disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, includes a plurality of mechandise racks '10, 11 and 12. The racks 10, shown at the right hand end of Fig. 3, are what is known as dual racks, whereas the racks 11 at the front of the left-hand end of Fig. 3 are single racks. The racks 12 which are located directly behind the racks 11 are provided to contain match folders, which folders are delivered one to each customer upon the delivery of merchandise of any of the racks or 11. Obviously, more or fewer racks may be provided and it should be understood that the number of racks disclosed herein and their particular relationship with each other is selected for convenience of illustration and not limitation.

I In the operation of the vending machine disclosed herein, a customer will deposit a coin or coins of the re t' uired denomination in a slot provided in the machine casing (not shown), which coin or coins will-pass through a conventional coin-acceptor mechanism, from where the coin will pass into a coin-controlled mechanism generally indicated at 14 in Fig. 3.

'Ihe vending machine disclosed is provided with seven plunger-ejector plate mechanisms, each including a plunger' 15 and an ejector plate 16, one for each of the racks 10 and 11. For the present it is suffieient to note that when a selected plunger 15 is pulled outwardly, after the coin-controlled mechanism 14 has been conditioned to permit such operation, the related ejector plate 16 is withdrawn from beneath the stack of merchandise in its related rack, as shown in Fig. 8, to permit said stack to drop open and, when the plunger is returned to its initial position, the ejector plate 16 will push the lower-most package of merchandise M ahead of it rearwardly through a discharge opening 17 provided in the bottom margin of the back Wall of the related rack, from where it falls into a chute (not shown) for delivery to the customer. The vending mechanisms which are described in detail hereinafter, are mounted in a base structure or chassis, generally indicated at 18. The chassis 18 is fabricated. from sheet metal stock and is substantially rectangular in shape. It includes a front wall 19, a top Wall 21 extending rearwardly from the front wall and a downwardly extending rear wall portion 22. End walls 23 (Figs. 1 and 2) of said chassis extend upwardly and terminate above the plane of the top wall 21. These end walls, together with a connecting back wall 24 and the top wall 21-,constitute (in whole or in part) support means upon which the racks 10, 11 and 12 are removably mounted. Inasmuch as the specific manner of mounting racks in place does not constitute a part of the present invention, no specific description pertaining to said mounting is included in this application.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 to 8, inclusive, the plungers 15 of the plunger-ejector plate mechanisms extend through openings 25 in the chassis front wall 19. Because the structure and operation of each of the plunger-ejector plate mechanisms is identical, only one will be described in detail, it being understood that the description is applicable to each plunger-ejector plate mechanism and that like numerals are used to identify corre sponding parts.

The plunger 15 preferably constitutes a rod of suflicient length to extend from outwardly beyond the chassis front Wall 19 to a point substantially adjacent to the inside face of the downwardly turned rear chassis wall 22; Mounted upon the plunger, so as to move normally therewith, is a slidable vending assembly generally indicated at 26. This vending assembly is fabricated from sheet metal and it includes a top wall 27 and downwardly extending side walls 28. A plate 29 bridges the side walls 28at their forward ends and preferably is secured to said side walls in any suitable manner such as, for example, by welding. The plate 29 has a centrally located aperture therein through which theplunger 15 extends. Firmly' mounted on the top wall 27, as by means of rivets 31, is a laminated assembly 32 fabricated from strap stock, which assembly extends upwardly through a slot 37in the.

chassis top wall 21 and includes a top plate 33 having upwardly extending parallel side walls 34 (Fig. 6) which terminate at their upper margins in outwardly turned horizontally disposed flanges 35. These flanges have firmly secured thereto, as by welding, as indicated at 36, the merchandise ejector plate 16. The ejector plate is of a width so as to be accommodated within the rack with which it is associated and a length that normally locates a substantial portion thereof beneath the lowermost merchandise package therein so as to constitute a floor therefor. The rear margin of said ejector plate 16 is turned downwardly to provide a depending flange 38 which functions, in a manner to become apparent presently, to push a package of the merchandise ahead of it during a vending operation. The slide assembly 26 normally moves with the plunger 15, as is best illustrated in Figs. 5, 7 and 8.

The rear-most end of the plunger 15 carries, slidable thereon, a substantially rectangular plate 39 having forwardly turnedside flanges 41. The width of the plate 39 is considerably less than the spacing between the side walls 28 of the slidable assembly 26 and each flange 41 carries a pin 42 each of which extends outwardly through a slot 43 in the related side wall 28. A spring 44 is arranged around the plunger 15 with one end bearing against a washer 40 located inwardly of the plate 29 of the slidable assembly and its other end bearing against the plate 39 on the plunger. Under normal conditions of operation the slidable assembly is intended to move in unison with the plunger 15. Such movement is assured by providing a split collar 45 on the extreme rear-most end of the plunger 15 for normal abutment with the plate 39. A second split ring 46 is also carried by the plunger 15 forwardly of washer 40 for engagement therewith upon rearward movement of plunger 15.

In order to prevent independent movement of either the plunger 15 or slidable assembly 26 during a normal vending operation, latch means is provided which, as is best illustrated in Fig. 4, includes a pair of latches 47 pivotally mounted at 48 one to the outside face of each of the side walls 28 of the slidable assembly. The levers 47 have a notch 49 adjacent their free ends which are held normally in frictional latching engagement with the pins 42 projecting beyond the related side walls 28. Normal engagement between the latches 47 and pins 42 is accomplished by means of springs 51 each of which has one end connected to a related latch as at 52, and its other end connected, as by means of a pin 53, to the related side wall 28 of the slidable assembly.

Before entering into further discussion of the specific construction and means for effecting operative movement of the vending mechanism, it should be noted that the latches 47 will, when the machine is conditioned for normal operation, lock the slidable assembly 26 to the plunger 15. However, should an attempt be made to effect vending of merchandise without having previously conditioned the coin-controlled mechanism for such operation, any outwardmovement or withdrawal of any plunger 15 will cause the pins 42 to overcome the ten sion of springs 51 and cam themselves out of the related notches 49 whereupon the plunger 15 may be withdrawn the full extent permitted by its construction through free sliding of the pins 42 in their related slots 43. Should the slide mechanism and plungers be in their withdrawn positions and an attempt is made to force the mechanism back to its normal position too rapidly, or should said mechanism become jammed, inward movement of the plunger may be effected independently of movement of the slide mechanism. In such event the split ring 46 abuts the washer 40 and compresses the spring 44.

Each plunger and its related vending mechanism is operatively connected to the coin-controlled mechanism in a manner to be described presently so that said plunger 5 presence of a coin or coins of the proper denomination to permit unlocking of the coin-controlled mechanism. This interconnection between each plunger 15 and-the coin-controlled mechanism must, of necessity, be flexible because said mechanism must be effective when properly conditioned to permit any one of the plurality of plnngers 15 to be operated without permitting or causing operation of the remaining plungers. This means includes a horizontally disposed slide bar or rod 54 which is mounted in the chassis 18 beneath and perpendicular to the plungers 15. As shown, the rod is substantially coextensive with the length of the chassis and has a rolling bearing mounting in the chassis end walls 23 through the provision of slots 55. In its normal inoperative position, the rod 54 rests at rearmostends of the slots 55 and during a vending operating said said rod is adapted to slide or roll in the slots 55 a distance corresponding substantially to the length of said slots.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 6, it will be observed that each side wall 28 of the slidable assembly 26 has a depending portion at its rearmost end defining a shoulder 56 that lies immediately to the rear of the rod 54. When any one of the plungers 15 is actuated, during a vending operation, forward movement of the slidable assembly 26 with said plunger will cause the shoulders 56 of said assembly to abut the rod 54 and carry it with it from the position illustrated in Fig. 4 into the position best illustrated in Fig. 8. In order to prevent canting or rocking of the rod 54, owing to its having but point contact with its motivating means, said rod is provided adjacent each of its ends, inwardly of each chassis end walls 23, with a pinion 57, the teeth of which are always in mesh with the teeth of a related rack 58. Each rack 58 is preferably secured firmly to the inside surface of its related chassis end wall 23 as by rivets 59, although it should be obvious that these racks may be mounted in any other manner.

In order to return the rod 54 to its initial position during return movement of the plunger 15, each slidable assembly is provided with means normally disengaged from said rod 54, but which is rendered effective immediately following initial outward withdrawal of a plunger 15 and its slidable assembly. This means is perhaps best illustrated in Figs. 4 through 8. As shown,

it consists of a bracket 61 fashioned from sheet stock and provided adjacent one of its ends with a pair of ears 62 which embraces the depending portions of the slidable assembly side walls 28. A pin 63 pivotally secures the ears 62 to said depending portions, thus providing a hinge mounting for the bracket 61. The other or free end of the bracket 61 has a relatively long wall portion 64 disposed substantially perpendicular to the body of the bracket. The bracket 61 normally rests substantially in the position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 with its rearmost edge in abutment with a wear plate 65 mounted on the inside face of the downwardly extending chassis wall portion 22. Initial withdrawal of the plunger, and its slidable assembly, carries the bracket 61 out of contact with the wear plate 65, whereupon said bracket is free to rock clockwise so as to carry the wall portion 64 into position in advance of the slide rod 54. Such position of the bracket 61 is best illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

Upon referring to Fig. 7, it will be observed that the bracket 61 includes a tail portion 66 formed integral with either one of the ears 62. The tail portion carries a roller 67 journalled thereon by a rivet 68 or by other means. The roller 67 is so disposed with relation to the slidable assembly as to be located on one side thereof. Referring now to Fig. 6, the roller 67 is arranged so as to move into rolling contact with a portion, at least, of a U-shaped track 69 secured to the bottom face of the chassis top wall 21 and depending therefrom. The roller 67 and track 69 thus cooperate to position and retain the bracket 61 in the rod latching position illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 so that after the slidable assembly has been withdrawn the full extent of its travel, as shown in Fig} 8, and the plunger and said assembly are then returned toward their initial positions, the rod 54 is carried there with. Upon approaching their normal or initial positions, the roller 67 will move off of the rear end of the track 69, thus permitting the bracket to again assume its unlatched position shown, for example, in Fig. 4. This physical engagement of the slide rod 54 by the bracket 61, actuated upon manipulation of a selected plunger, provides a structure whereby any one of the plunger-ejector plate assembly mechanisms may be operatively connected with the rod 54 without requiring like operation of the non-selected plungers.

As previously mentioned, the slide rod 54 constitutes a part of an operative connection between the coin-com trolled mechanism 14 and a selected plunger 15. This operative connection includes a linkage best shown in Fig. 1 operatively associated with the rod 54 so as to be actuated each time the rod is moved through one complete cycle of movement. Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, it will be observed that the slide rod 54 extends outwardly of the right-hand chassis end wall 23 and has mounted on said end, for movement with said rod, one end of an arm 71. The arm 71 has a pivot pin 72 thereon over which is engaged a slotted opening 73 provided in the lower end of a link 74 arranged vertically and pivotally secured at its upper end to the related end wall 23, as by means of a pivot pin 75. A spring 76 connected at one end, as at 77, to the link and at its other end to a fixed pin 78 normally tends to hold the link '74 in the position illustrated, in which position the slide rod 54 is retained normally at the rearmost ends of its slots 55.

The other end of the arm 71 is guided in a horizontal slot 79 by a pin 81 so as to insure movement of said arm in a substantially horizontal plane. The arm 71 carries a rack 82 on its outside face which meshes at all times with a toothed segment 83 pivotally mounted at 84 on the related chassis end wall 23. The segment 83 carries as an integral part thereof a plate 85, substantially triangular in shape, provided at its apex with a trunnion 86 on which is pivotally mounted one end of a link 87. The link 87 extends towards the front of the vending machine machanism and carries on its forward end a pin 88 journalled or otherwise connected to a slide plate 89. The slide plate 89 lies against the outside face of the righthand chassis end wall 23 and is retained by and guided alongopposed channels 81 and 92 (Fig. 9) carried by said wall. During a vending operation, the slide rod 54 is carried forward in its slots 55, thus carrying the arm 71 forwardly therewith. This forward movement of the arm 71 imparts clockwise rotation to the toothed segment 83 and its plate so as to move the link 87 toward the back of the vending apparatus. Such movement of the link 87 imparts comparable movement to the slide plate 89. V

The slide plate 89 carriesan outwardly projecting arm 93 provided on its upper side with a roller 94. Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the roller 94 is engaged at all times with a slotted element 95 forming a part of the coin-controlled mechanism 14. Without entering into a detailed discussion of the coin-controlled mechanism, it might be observed that when the slide plate 89 is shifted toward the rear of the vending apparatus, the engaged part 95 of the coin-controlled mechanism is likewise shifted. When said mechanism is properly conditioned by the presence of a coin or coins to permit it to be unlocked upon initial shifting of the member 95, said member may then move through a complete cycle of operation, thus permitting the slide plate 89, as well as the linkage connecting it to the rod 54, and the rod 54, to move through a complete cycle of operation, it being obvious that when the actuated plunger 15 is 'retumed to its normal position, all of the parts operatively connected therewith and movable upon operation thereof are returned to their normal initial positions. In this manner all of the mechanism is returned to its initial position-upon completion of one cycle of the vending operation.

It has been noted hereinabove that when the ejector plate 16 is moved from a position illustrated in Fig. 4 into, for example, a position illustrated in Fig. 8, a package of merchandise M falls down onto the top wall 21 of the chassis 18. When the ejector plate 16 is returned to its initial position, the downturned end 38 thereof abuts said package of merchandise and pushed it ahead of it so as to cause it to be vended to the customer, said plate moving into position beneath the next succeeding package of merchandise to prevent it from being vended. I

The ejector plate 16 is provided with a cam surface 96, adjacent its forwardly disposed end, adapted to coact with a price-control bar 97, the operation of which is required when merchandise having a value of 25 is to be vended. The const ruc't ion and operation of this price-control bar 97 and its component elements is fully disclosed and claimed in the aforementioned companion application of Edwin Parre, Serial No. 449,118, filed, Aug. 11, 1954, and consequently no further reference will be made to itss'tructure of function. g

p The plunger-ejector plate mechanism is provided with means to prevent its actuation when the rack or 11 associated with it has been emptied. Such means is perhaps best illustrated in Fig, 4. As shown, a trigger 98 is pivotally mounted, at 99, on one of the side walls of the channel 34 carrying the ejector plate 16. One end of the trigger 98 projects through a slot 101 in the ejector plate 16, while its other or longer end is disposed for engagement in a slot 102. provided in the chassis top wall 21. As long as any merchandise remains in a rack, the trigger 98 is held substantially in the full line position. As soon as the last package of merchandise in the rack has been vended, said trigger drops by gravity into the broken line position illustrated in Fig. 4. When in this position, the end of the longer portion of the trigger 98 engages in the slot 102 and consequently prevents reciprocal movemerit of the slidable assembly and ejector plate 16 associated therewith. Any attempt to actuate the vending mechanism when locked by the trigger 98 will result merely in free-sliding of the plunger within the slidable assembly, the spring 44 being thereby compressed so as to return the plunger to its initial position immediately upon its being released.

I Vending machine of the character disclosed herein are frequently cheated because of the omission of any structure or mechanism effective to prevent rapid reciprocation of any one or more plungers, which rapid reciprocation can be obtained, following the deposit of a coin or coins, not withstanding the locking mechanism contained within the coin-controlled mechanism 14. In order to prevent such actuation, which involves partial Withdrawal of a plunger and its rapid return to normal position and subsequent but immediate withdrawal, there is provided novel means to insure that each plunger is moved through a complete cycle of operation in the intended manner and that When so moves, the machine is rendered inoperable unless and until another coin or coins of the proper denomination is deposited in the coin-controlled mechani'sm; This anti-cheat means is best illustrated in Fig. 2. As there shown, the projecting end of the slide rod 54 has one end of a bar 103 journalled thereon. The other end of this bar, which is disposed substantially horizontally, has a roller or pin 104 engaged in a slot 105 provided in the left-hand chassis end wall 23. Bar 103 carties a ratchet 106 normally positioned rearwardly of a cooperating dog 107. This dog is held with its nib 10-8 disposed downwardly at all times by opposed springs 109 and 111. As soon as the rod 54 is moved toward the front of the vending machine upon withdrawal of a plunger 15, the ratchet 106 is engaged by the nib 108 of the dog 107 and the latter is rocked thereby to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2. This effectively prevents premature return movement of the slide rod 54, such return movement being made possible only after the ratchet 106 has passed beyond the dog 107, whereupon return movement of the slide rod 54 will again engage the ratchet 106 with the nib 108, thus rocking the dog to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, so as to insure complete and full return of the rod 54 to its initial position before the dog 107 is disengaged from the ratchet 106. Inter-related means (not shown) is associated with the plunger-ejector plate assemblies so as to prevent operation of any but the selected assembly during a vending cycle.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A vending machine comprising a reciprocally movable ejector member, a manually reciprocable plunger member, a plate member mounted for movement longitudinally of said plunger member, compressed spring means extending longitudinally of said plunger member and having a rearward end engaging said plate member to urge the latter rearwardly, a first abutment means fixed to said plunger member rearwardly of said plate member and normally engaging the latter, a second abutment means fixed to said ejector member and normally receiving the thrust of the forward end of said spring means, a third abutment means fixed to said plunger member and normally spaced forwardly of said spring means for engaging the forward end of said spring means and further compressing the latter in response to relative rearward movement of said plunger member with respect to said ejector member, and means actuable for drivingly connecting said ejector member and said plate member.

2. A vending machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises strain relief means for deactuating said connecting means in response to the attainment of a predetermined strain due to jamming or other immobility of said ejector member as said plunger member is moved.

3. A vending machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said means connecting said ejector member and said plate member comprises a latch pivotally mounted to one of said members, a pin secured to the other of said members, said latch having a recess receiving said pin when said connecting means is actuated, and additional spring means yieldably urging said latch towards said pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,315,416 Rindfleisch Sept. 9, 1919 2,037,462 DuGrenier Apr. 14, 1936 2,129,322 Hakanson Sept. 6, 1938 2,159,603 Rowe May 23, 1939 2,254,841 'Gabrielsen Sept. 2, 1941 2,330,153 -Steiner Sept. 21, 1943 2,494,805 Gabrielsen Jan. l7, 1950 2,565,766 Gabrielsen Aug. 28, 1951 2,599,913 Hancock June 10, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 553,113 France May 14, 1923 

